Campaign of the Chersonese

Last updated
Campaign of the Chersonese
Part of the Wars of the Diadochi
Ellesponto map-es.svg
Spanish map of the Thracian Chersonese and the Hellespont
Date300–299 BC
Location
Thracian Chersonese, Hellespont
Result Antigonid victory
Destabilisation of Lysimachus
Belligerents
Demetrius I Poliorcetes Lysimachus
Strength
10,000 in the beginning, probably somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 at the end Unknown, but probably significant, as he was able to lead at least 20,000 soldiers for the battle of Ipsus

After the disaster of the Battle of Ipsus, Demetrius I Poliorcetes launched a campaign of raids in the Thracian Chersonese in 300-299 BCE. These raids, directed against Lysimachus, were a last-ditch effort by the Antigonid to rebuild his forces and buy time to avoid complete annihilation.

Contents

He contested Lampsacus with Lysimachus and captured it at least twice, without occupying it. During this campaign, Demetrius won skirmishes with his troops and managed to establish a complete blockade of the Hellespont. Aided by the emerging dissensions among the victorious Diadochi of Ipsus, he left the Thracian Chersonese for the Middle East in 299-298 BCE, where he reunited with his former enemy, Seleucus I, to whom he gave his daughter Stratonice in marriage. Overall, his very precarious position was strengthened by this campaign, which restored him among the Diadochian powers and allowed him to rebuild his troops and a portion of his prestige.

Background

The Battle of Ipsus was a disaster for the Antigonids; their army, encountering the combined forces of Seleucus and Lysimachus on the battlefield, was completely destroyed. [1] Demetrius was not a stranger to this defeat: he broke through the enemy lines and advanced decisively against Antiochus, the son of Seleucus, but this cut him off from the main battle, and he had to witness, helplessly, the complete destruction of the Antigonid phalanx and the death of his father. [1] [2] Antigonus I, a central figure in the Wars of the Diadochi and one of the main contenders for Alexander's succession, indeed met his end on the battlefield. [1] [3] Antigonus's death finalized the decisive defeat of the Antigonids and placed Demetrius in a very difficult position. [1] [4]

Operations

Flight

Geopolitical situation before the Battle of Ipsus Diadoques-303-fr.svg
Geopolitical situation before the Battle of Ipsus

Demetrius assessed the lost situation of the battle and the death of Antigonus, then fled the battlefield. [5] This was a pragmatic choice aimed at preserving the remnants of the available Antigonid power. [5] While the victorious Diadochi gathered to divide Antigonus's lands, [6] Demetrius rushed westward and quickly headed toward Ephesus. [5] [7] Plutarch states that Demetrius had less than ten thousand soldiers remaining, a minimal fraction of the Antigonid forces before the battle. Clearly, Demetrius aimed to extract himself from Anatolia as swiftly as possible; indeed, he found part of his well-preserved fleet in the city, allowing him to reengage in the Hellenistic and Aegean world and to reach the two remaining centers of his power, Athens and Cyprus. [5] Despite the wavering loyalty of his troops, who threatened to plunder the city's temple, Demetrius managed to have them embark without major issues. [5]

Geopolitical situation after the Battle of Ipsus Diadochi-fr.svg
Geopolitical situation after the Battle of Ipsus

The subsequent events are difficult to establish, but it seems that Demetrius intended to go to Athens, where part of his fleet remained. [5] However, the city declared that he was no longer welcome. [5] [8] [9] He retrieved his fleet and "solidified" his position somewhat, according to Plutarch, though it is unclear what this entailed—probably a short period of consolidation and administration of the territories still under his control. [5] During this period, he likely went to Corinth to recruit mercenaries, and despite the division of his territories and the loss of Athens, he managed to maintain control over Ephesus, certain cities in Phoenicia, Cyprus, and some islands in the Aegean Sea. [5] In Ephesus, specifically, he thwarted a betrayal attempt by the leader of the garrison during this period. [10]

He then set out for the Thracian Chersonese and began to ravage the territories of Lysimachus. [5] [11] [12] [13]

Strategic choices and Campaign

The fact that Demetrius chose to attack Lysimachus, specifically targeting the Thracian Chersonese, was a strategically sound decision by the Epigone. [14] He likely selected this Diadochus because Lysimachus had inherited a significant portion of the former Antigonid territories in Anatolia. [14] Furthermore, Lysimachus, being the most isolated and the most dangerous to his peers, made an ideal target for Demetrius. [14] Demetrius and Lysimachus also had a long-standing personal rivalry. [11] Additionally, Demetrius could utilize his well-preserved fleet to secure control of the Hellespont, thereby threatening Thrace and obstructing any attempts by Lysimachus to seize Anatolian lands, exploiting the geographical division of Lysimachus's territory between Europe and Asia. [14] This fleet undoubtedly enhanced Demetrius's mobility, and it seems that he crossed the Hellespont with his troops multiple times, capturing Lampsacus at least twice without holding it permanently, indicating his lack of interest in territorial conquest at that moment. [14] At this time, his fleet likely consisted of around 170 auxiliary ships, theoretically allowing him to transport more than 40,000 people, far more than his actual troops. [15]

After disembarking his troops, still vastly outnumbered, he embarked on a campaign of asymmetric warfare while enforcing a complete blockade of the Hellespont and capturing settlements, the only known one being Lampsacus. [14] Demetrius appears to be well-acquainted with this style of warfare, as he was credited with an ambush victory in 311 BCE against a general of Ptolemy, named Cilles. [16] Few details are known about this campaign, making it difficult to reconstruct. [14] However, Demetrius seemed to conduct a series of raids to ravage the territory, possibly to pin Lysimachus down in the region, gradually rebuild his forces and their loyalty, and generally hinder his opponent as much as possible. [14] Polyaenus refers to an episode, considered part of this campaign, where Lysimachus executed five thousand Illyrian soldiers after a defeat against Demetrius, indicating Lysimachus's precarious position to the extent that he feared a revolt among his troops. [14]

It appears that more than financial rewards from looting, with Demetrius still receiving funds from his remaining territories, this campaign was a sort of "forward escape" for prestige. [14] After Ipsus, Demetrius was in grave need of legitimacy; he had to erase the mark of defeat with heroic or victorious deeds to regain legitimacy in the eyes of his troops and subjects before embarking on new conquests. [14] Some elements of the campaign suggest that Demetrius was more interested in the prestige of victories than immediate financial gain, although financial motivation undoubtedly remained a primary concern for the sovereign. [14] This campaign was conducted in parallel with a Thracian revolt against Lysimachus, which is sparsely documented in the sources but sheds significant light on Lysimachus's precarious situation during this period. [14] Notably, Lysimachus received no aid from his former allies. [17]

Results

Demetrius achieved his war objectives; he managed to impact Lysimachus, to buy time by putting himself out of reach of the other Diadochi while they divided between themselves. Additionally, he succeeded in rebuilding his forces and becoming once again a significant player in the Hellenistic world. [14] The loyalty of his troops was assured once more, and after his campaign, he still retained his significant fleet, with none of his remaining territories lost. [14] Furthermore, he reasserted himself diplomatically, as in 299-298 BCE, Demetrius left the Chersonese for the Middle East to participate in the marriage of his daughter, Stratonice I, to Seleucus I, the former victor of Ipsus. [14] [18] This marriage and alliance served as official testimony to his rehabilitation among the Diadochian powers and paralleled the royal marriages of Lysimachus and Ptolemy, who allied themselves. [14] However, if the campaign was initially intended to be a conquest campaign, which is far from certain, Demetrius failed to conquer the targeted territories. [14]

Overall, this campaign transformed his situation; from a desperate position, he once again became an emerging power in the Hellenistic world and a significant actor. [14] It also demonstrated the resilience that Demetrius displayed during one of the most precarious moments of his career and foreshadowed the tireless character that characterized his Greek campaign from 297 to 287 BCE. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigonid dynasty</span> Dynasty of Hellenistic kings

The Antigonid dynasty was a Macedonian Greek royal house which ruled the kingdom of Macedon during the Hellenistic period. Founded by Antigonus I Monophthalmus, a general and successor of Alexander the Great, the dynasty first came to power after the Battle of Salamis in 306 BC and ruled much of Hellenistic Greece from 294 until their defeat at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BC, after which Macedon came under the control of the Roman Republic.

This article concerns the period 319 BC – 310 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">300s BC (decade)</span> Decade

This article concerns the period 309 BC – 300 BC.

Year 311 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Barbula. The denomination 311 BC for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demetrius I Poliorcetes</span> King of Macedon (294–288 BC)

Demetrius I Poliorcetes, was a Macedonian Greek nobleman and military leader who became king of Asia between 306 – 301 BC and king of Macedon between 294–288 BC. A member of the Antigonid dynasty, he was the son of its founder, Antigonus I Monophthalmus and his wife Stratonice, as well as the first member of the family to rule Macedon in Hellenistic Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seleucus I Nicator</span> Macedonian general, Diadochus, and founder of the Seleucid Empire

Seleucus I Nicator was a Macedonian Greek general, officer and successor of Alexander the Great who went on to found the eponymous Seleucid Empire, led by the Seleucid dynasty. Initially a secondary player in the power struggles following Alexander's death, Seleucus rose to become the total ruler of Asia Minor, Syria, Mesopotamia, and the Iranian plateau, assuming the title of basileus (emperor). The Seleucid Empire was one of the major powers of the Hellenistic world, until it was overcome by the Roman Republic and Parthian Empire in the late second and early first centuries BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigonus I Monophthalmus</span> Macedonian general, Diadochus, King of Asia

Antigonus I Monophthalmus was a Macedonian Greek general and successor of Alexander the Great. A prominent military leader in Alexander's army, he went on to control large parts of Alexander's former empire. He assumed the title of basileus (king) in 306 BC and reigned until his death. He was the founder of the Antigonid dynasty, which ruled over Macedonia until its conquest by the Roman Republic in 168 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassander</span> King of Macedonia, Antipatrid dynasty

Cassander was king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia from 305 BC until 297 BC, and de facto ruler of southern Greece from 317 BC until his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrrhus of Epirus</span> King of Epirus from 297 to 272 BC

Pyrrhus was a Greek king and statesman of the Hellenistic period. He was king of the Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house, and later he became king of Epirus. He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome, and had been regarded as one of the greatest generals of antiquity. Several of his victorious battles caused him unacceptably heavy losses, from which the term "Pyrrhic victory" was coined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lysimachus</span> Macedonian officer (c. 360–281 BCE)

Lysimachus was a Thessalian officer and successor of Alexander the Great, who in 306 BC, became King of Thrace, Asia Minor and Macedon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antigonus II Gonatas</span> King of Macedonia from 277 BC to 239 BC

Antigonus II Gonatas was a Macedonian Greek ruler who solidified the position of the Antigonid dynasty in Macedon after a long period defined by anarchy and chaos and acquired fame for his victory over the Gauls who had invaded the Balkans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Ipsus</span> Battle in 301 BC that ended the Fourth War of the Diadochi

The Battle of Ipsus was fought between some of the Diadochi in 301 BC near the town of Ipsus in Phrygia. Antigonus I Monophthalmus, the Macedonian ruler of large parts of Asia, and his son Demetrius were pitted against the coalition of three other successors of Alexander: Cassander, ruler of Macedon; Lysimachus, ruler of Thrace; and Seleucus I Nicator, ruler of Babylonia and Persia. Only one of these leaders, Lysimachus, had actually been one of Alexander's somatophylakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diadochi</span> Political rivals in the aftermath of Alexander the Greats death

The Diadochi were the rival generals, families, and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for control over his empire after his death in 323 BC. The Wars of the Diadochi mark the beginning of the Hellenistic period from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wars of the Diadochi</span> Series of wars between Alexander the Greats successors, 322–281 BC

The Wars of the Diadochi, or Wars of Alexander's Successors, were a series of conflicts fought between the generals of Alexander the Great, known as the Diadochi, over who would rule his empire following his death. The fighting occurred between 322 and 281 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eumenes</span> Greek general and satrap (fl. 362–315 BC)

Eumenes was a Greek general and satrap. He participated in the Wars of Alexander the Great, serving as both Alexander's personal secretary and as a battlefield commander. He later was a participant in the Wars of the Diadochi as a supporter of the Macedonian Argead royal house. He was executed after the Battle of Gabiene in the winter of 316–315 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Salamis (306 BC)</span> Naval battle during the Wars of the Diadochi

The naval Battle of Salamis in 306 BC took place off Salamis, Cyprus between the fleets of Ptolemy I of Egypt and Antigonus I Monophthalmus, two of the Diadochi, the generals who, after the death of Alexander the Great, fought each other for control of his empire.

The Second War of the Diadochi was the conflict between the coalition of Polyperchon, Olympias and Eumenes and the coalition of Cassander, Antigonus, Ptolemy and Lysimachus following the death of Cassander's father, Antipater.

The Battle of Lysimachia was fought in 277 BC between the Gallic tribes settled in Thrace and a Greek army of Antigonus at Lysimachia, Thracian Chersonese. After the Greek defeat at Battle of Thermopylae, the Gauls retreated out of Greece and moved through Thrace and finally into Asia.

The Second siege of Babylon took place during the Babylonian War in 310 BC. Antigonid forces under Antigonus's oldest son, Demetrius, besieged the Seleucid garrison of the city of Babylon under the command of Patrocles.

The Battle of Myus was a military engagement that took place in 311 BC. The battle occurred in Syria or more generally, the Levant, at an unknown location named Myus, between an Antigonid force led by Demetrius I Poliorcetes and a Ptolemaic force under the command of a close associate of Ptolemy, Cilles. It concluded with an Antigonid victory, permitting to mitigate the defeat of Gaza, and likely led to the Peace of 311 BC among the various Diadochi.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wheatley, Pat; Dunn, Charlotte (2020). Demetrius the besieger. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 237–253. ISBN   978-0-19-883604-9.
  2. ↑ "Plutarch • Life of Demetrius". penelope.uchicago.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Appian, The Syrian Wars 11 - Livius". www.livius.org. Archived from the original on 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Orosius, Book 3 (B)". www.attalus.org. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wheatley, Pat; Dunn, Charlotte (2020). Demetrius the besieger. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 253–279. ISBN   978-0-19-883604-9.
  6. ↑ "Justinus: Epitome of Pompeius Trogus (1)". www.attalus.org. Archived from the original on 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  7. ↑ "Eusebius: Chronicle (3) - translation". www.attalus.org. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  8. ↑ "Polyaenus: Stratagems - Book 4 (b)". www.attalus.org. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  9. ↑ "Plutarch • Life of Demetrius". penelope.uchicago.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  10. ↑ "Polyaenus: Stratagems - Book 4 (b)". www.attalus.org. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  11. 1 2 Dunn, Charlotte (2018). "Messene besieged: A note on two (?) engagements in the Peloponnese". Acta Classica. 61: 190–200. doi:10.15731/AClass.061.09.
  12. ↑ Rose, Thomas Caldwell (2015). A Historical Commentary on Plutarch's Life of Demetrius (Thesis). OCLC   1237220703. ProQuest   2016119143.
  13. ↑ "Plutarch • Life of Demetrius". penelope.uchicago.edu. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Wheatley, Pat; Dunn, Charlotte (2020). Demetrius the besieger. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. pp. 279–301. ISBN   978-0-19-883604-9.
  15. ↑ Nantet, Emmanuel (27 November 2023). "'Hippapai!' Horse-Carriers: A Master Ship of Ancient Thalassocracies". Klio. 105 (2): 486–509. doi: 10.1515/klio-2022-0029 .
  16. ↑ Wheatley, Pat; Dunn, Charlotte (2020). Demetrius the besieger. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. p. 75. ISBN   978-0-19-883604-9.
  17. ↑ Lund, Helen Sarah (1992). Bridging the Hellespont: The Successor Lysimachus - a study in early Hellenistic kingship (Thesis).
  18. ↑ "Greek Chronicles - translations". www.attalus.org. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.